Washington lien, public works bond and retainage rules
Record a lien within 90 days of your last work, sue within eight months. On public jobs, retainage is capped at 5% and contractors post a bond for the full contract price.
Washington's construction lien law is chapter 60.04 RCW. Public works rely on contract bonds (chapter 39.08 RCW) and retainage (chapter 60.28 RCW). This is a summary, not legal advice.
Private projects
- Notice of right to lien: suppliers of materials, equipment or professional services must give the owner written notice. It protects only what was supplied from 60 days before the notice was mailed or delivered (RCW 60.04.031).
- Recording: record a notice of claim of lien in the county no later than 90 days after you stopped furnishing labor, services, materials or equipment (RCW 60.04.091).
- Enforcing: the lien lapses eight calendar months after recording unless you file suit in superior court and serve the owner within 90 days of filing (RCW 60.04.141).
Public works
Public bodies must require a bond from the contractor conditioned on performing the contract and paying laborers, subcontractors and suppliers (RCW 39.08.010). For state work the bond equals the full contract price (RCW 39.08.030). Public improvement contracts also carry retainage of no more than 5% of the money earned, held as a trust fund for claimants and taxes; contracts funded with federal transportation money rely on the bond instead (RCW 60.28.011).
Summary for general information, reviewed 2026-10-30. Not legal advice; check the source before relying on a deadline or threshold.
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